Grade 4 Girls – Coach: Cooper
Holliston 13, Framingham 12
The 4th Grade Girls traveled to Framingham and gave Anna Maria DellaRocca a worthy birthday present with a 13-12 win. A wire-to-wire game that saw 7 lead changes broke in Holliston’s favor with 3:52 remaining when Reagan Taylor drew a hard foul and went to the line for two shots. With the score tied at 10, Taylor hit her last free throw after a lane violation, putting Holliston up one. Framingham scored on a tough layup with 1:35 remaining, taking the lead 12-11 which sent the home crowd into a frenzy. Holliston did not waver and called a quick timeout which led to an ESPN top 10 play. With 21.3 seconds left in the game, Holliston, still down by 1 and needing to go the full length of the court, inbounded the ball to Catherine Lavasseur. Lavasseur used a double screen to go the full length of the court for a layup with 7.8 seconds remaining giving Holliston the lead and one point win. Also getting in on the scoring action was Brighton Swenson, Harper Sochanek, and Addy Cicciarella. The team’s next game will be back in the friendly confines of the Adams Gymnasium after the New Year.
6th Grade Girls (White) – Coach: Smith
Holliston 11, Concord-Carlisle 17
The team headed on their first road trip of the season to the swanky Middlesex School where Concord-Carlisle (CC) awaited. The first quarter proved an even match up, with Sam Baweja scoring an easy 2 points from 7 feet back. Headed back down the court CC charged into the hard line of defense by Aarya Sharma, which proved to be the block heard around the gym, the slap of the ball gave guard Charley Marcuard a steal to head back down the court. At the end of the first half, Emma Whitehead had 4 steals and two picks to help the offensive line. The second half gave the team an additional 8 points in just the third quarter alone, with Marcuard, Whitehead, Klein, and Sharma each contributing a bucket. Due to the December sickness spread across many areas of the state, the team needed to call in replacements, one being 5th grader Katelyn Klein, Katelyn exceeded expectations by easily figuring out the plays and scoring a total of 3 points, a team high, which lends this reporter to ponder if this Katelyn is a distant cousin to a Caitlin in Indiana? Ruby Smith, Elise Ferguson, and Lauren de Vlaam-Siegers all were key contributors to the defense with Smith having 4 fouls, the coach needed to bench her for the 4th quarter to preserve the defense just in case an overtime was in the cards.
The team will rally to Sudbury and Lexington weekend of 21-22 December to see if there is a Christmas Miracle on the court.
6th Grade Girls (Red) – Coach: Cooper
Holliston 18, Somerville 32
The 6th Grade (red) team were on the road this week to face an experienced Somerville team which clipped the Panthers 32-18. Rebecca Lindros continued her supremacy in the paint with 9 rebounds, along with adding 4 points. Lindros’s knack for finding the ball and aggressive play is making her a player to watch this season. The Panthers hung in the game after a 6-point second quarter run, led by an Emma Sochanek step-back jump shot that hit nothing but net. Molly Starr led the game with 5 steals and Ailla Howden brought down 7 rebounds of her own. Brianna Cooper added 6 points and Gwen Rosen chipped in with 2 baskets. The play of the game came in the 4th quarter when Kendall Hanlon came off a screen at the top of the key and did her best Allen Iverson cross-over to go by the defender and hit a 15-foot jump shot. Hanlon proceeded to stare down Holliston’s assistant coach (her dad) on the way back to playing defense. The team will return to action in Northborough after the New Year.
7th Grade Girls (White) – Coach: Roche
Holliston 20, Medway 15
The Holliston 7th-grade girls (white) played Medway in front of a jam-packed Adams gym. With only 6 players available, the Holliston girl’s strong defensive play shut down the Mustangs and the Panthers won 20-15.
Lindsey Walsh scored the first two baskets for the Panthers and ended up with 6 points. Elle Lessard had an outstanding overall game with 6 points, 3 assists, 3 rebounds and 8 steals. Louisa Bigelow was great on boards and led the Panthers with 10 rebounds. Lindsay Haynes and Sophia Teixeira picked up the scoring in the 2nd half with 4 points each.
Next Sunday the team travels to Hopkinton to take on the Hillers.
7th Grade Girls (Red) – Coach: McAdams
Holliston 13, Medfield 22
The Holliston 7th grade girls (red) team took on the Warriors of Medfield this past Sunday. Medfield took advantage of a quick start against Holliston and finished with a 22-13 victory. Holliston crawled their way back into the game but could not make a comeback. The team’s defense was exceptional with multiple steals and not allowing a point in the 2nd quarter. Ella Bennett led Holliston with 5 points to go along with 3 rebounds. Mia Malvey added 4 points, 3 rebounds and 2 assists. Addy McAdams led the team with 7 rebounds to go along with 2 points. Avery Palma had 4 steals as well as 2 points in the contest.
8th Grade Girls (White) – Coach: Arsenault
Holliston 26, Needham 10
Holliston 8th grade (white) team dominated an outmatched Needham team from start to finish. Lila Cohen led the team with ten points and several key rebounds while playing all five positions on floor, setting the tone for the girls. Lucy Downin had eight points, several steals and pushed the pace on offense in transition. Maria Burke was a force in the paint playing tough defense in the middle and dominant on the boards. The Panthers closed out the 4th quarter with terrific defense winning 26 to 10.
8th Grade Girls (Red) – Coach: McDonald
Holliston 19, Milford 29
The 8th grade girls (red), traveled to Milford to again play a familiar opponent having played them twice last year and once this year in a preseason tournament. Every time these two teams meet, it’s a gritty, hard fought, defense game and this matchup was no different. After three quarters, the teams were tied at 14 in a game that had almost as many fouls as points. Unfortunately for Holliston, Milford found its three-point range in the fourth quarter, hitting four of them, which was the difference in Milford’s 29-19 win. Shamili Potturi led Holliston with four points and two steals, Sedona Cicciarella contributed with four points and four rebounds. Chelsea Dufault led the team with six rebounds, Caroline Coughlin pulled down five, and Mackenzie McDonald had five rebounds and two steals. Next week Holliston hosts Medfield in its first home game.
BOYS:
4th Grade Boys (White) -– Coach: Peterson
Holliston 16, Arlington 43
Under the bright lights of Robert Adams Middle School, the 4th Grade Boys (white) of Holliston took to their home hardwood for the first time this season, squaring off against a formidable, undefeated foe from Arlington. Though the final tally favored the visitors, 43-16, the spirited Holliston lads gave the hometown crowd plenty to cheer about with their relentless determination and marked improvement as the game wore on.
Arlington struck early, establishing a lead that proved insurmountable, but the second half was a much more tightly contested affair. The Holliston boys, undeterred by the scoreboard, battled fiercely until the very last echo of the final buzzer. Max Burian, with the clock ticking down, delivered the final points of the contest – capping off his team-leading performance with a hard-earned 9 points.
Aiden Doss added 7 points to Holliston’s effort, displaying a sharpshooter’s eye and creating prime scoring opportunities. Credit is due to Youssef Lahaini and Charlie Ogoreuc, whose well-timed screens cleared paths for the Holliston attack. On defense, Jayce Sweet played with fearlessness and determination, while Oskar Peterson patrolled the paint like a sentry, hauling in an impressive 11 rebounds and swatting away 5 shots.
The “Effort Award” this week goes to the tireless Benjamin Leach, whose ceaseless running and cutting opened up opportunities for his teammates and kept Arlington defenders on their heels. His work off the ball was a testament to the team’s grit and unselfish play.
Though next weekend’s game has been canceled, the Holliston boys will take this week to regroup and prepare for further growth and success in the new year. As any sportsman worth his salt knows, victories come not only in score lines, but in heart, hustle, and progress – and on those counts, the young Holliston squad is well on its way.
4th Grade Boys (Red) [played 12/14 & 12/15] – Coach: Flannery
Holliston 27, Wellesley 46
On Saturday the 14th the shorthanded squad lost a tough one against a hot shooting Wellesley team 46-27. Apparently 3-point shooting is a required course in the Wellesley school system because those kids sure could shoot! Our highlights included Robert Chung calmly stepping up to the free throw line and draining his first two free throws of the year. 100% from the line, leading the team by far! Great work Robert!
Holliston 28, Medway 26
On Sunday December 15th the fortunate few that gathered at Medway Middle School witnessed an event that will forever change them. This tale of basketball beauty and spectacle of hustle, teamwork and intestinal fortitude will be passed down amongst generations of Hollistonians. Forget the 2004 Red Sox…forget the 28-3 New England Patriots….this is the story of the real “THE COMEBACK”! Down eight points going into the 4th quarter the Holliston 4th grade Red team gloriously fended off defeat, kicking and clawing their way to victory over a very tough and skilled Medway team. In the final three minutes the team’s boa constrictor like press forced two backcourt steals and layups to tie the game. All that was needed at that point was a stop on defense and a rebound, both of which they secured with 14 seconds left to play. Coming out of the timeout Tommy Baker calmly took the inbound pass and worked his way to the top of the key. There he met the screen as the seconds ticked off the clock…8…7……a drive to the hoop…a roll to open space… and kick out pass…6…5…4…a shimmy shake…a dribble…a step back jumper…silence….SWIIIIIIIIIISH!!! Keegan “Irish Mamba” Flannery laced a sweeter than Yoo-Hoo 16’ jumper with 2.2 seconds left on the clock. The Holliston fans and team erupted and the coaches may have suffered a mild strokes…All that was left to withstand was a wild heave from mid-court and the Holliston boys had their first win of the season! Final Score 28 to 26…An instant classic that the entire team fought for. JT Barry displayed more hustle than the Energizer Bunny, filling the stat sheet with 6 points/4 rebounds/3 steals. Declan Langlois had his best game of the season by far chipping in with 4 points/6 rebounds and his always reliable frenetic defense. Henry Paine did his best Magic Johnson impression, dazzling the crowd with a high speed, coast-to-coast layup to get the hoop and the harm. Keagan Shaw returned from a brief stint on the IR. He was a very welcome addition to the lineup contributing a key early bucket and 4 big rebounds. Tommy Baker was an Ace at the point guard spot with his steady play. His 10 points lead all scorers. Jameson Drake played amazing defense and had several steals, ripping the ball away from much larger players.
The team sits at 1-2 on the season heading into the Holiday break. They will pick up the action again on January 5th at Norwood.
Grade 5 Boys (White) – Coach: Lyskowski
Holliston 30, Somerville 34 (OT)
This past Sunday the fifth grade boys (white) showed up ready to play, facing off against Somerville at home. It was obvious the Holliston team had a change in their play, coming out of the gate strong. Tyler Crean was a true leader on the court, scoring 15 points, 7 rebounds, and a strong defense against a very talented Somerville team. Holliston commanded the court in the first half with a great rebound and jump shot from Smayan Alladi, but the team gave their opponent hope in the 3rd quarter letting Somerville come within one. The fourth quarter was a nail biter with both teams playing shut down defense with Holliston only scoring 4 and Somerville 5. Landon Maillet came through with a huge basket late in the 4th to give Holliston the lead, and Jake Looney turned on the afterburners throughout the 4th playing intense defense, totaling 6 rebounds and two steals. With a late 3 from Somerville the boys headed into overtime but fell short only scoring one point against Somerville’s five leading to the team’s second loss of the season 30 to 34. The team was clearly upset with the outcome but showed plenty of optimism towards their improvement week over week. The fire was clearly showing and after another week of preparation they will travel to Ashland Sunday to fight for a win.
Grade 5 Boys (Red) – Coach: Taylor
Holliston 24, Weston 20
The Holliston 5th grade boys (red) team opened their home schedule this past Sunday with a rousing win vs Weston 24-20 at the Robert Adams Jungle. The boys hit the court and took a quick 6-2 lead in the first and entered halftime up 12-8. Some small defensive adjustments at halftime allowed the boys to open up a 22-14 lead at the end of the third and held on to win with the final score of 24-20. Harrison Cirillo led all scorers with 18 points with Ayen Hemaratne, Liam O’Leary, and Sam Wagner each chipping in 2 points. Max Cohen once again played extremely tough defense, sticking with Weston’s top player most of the game. The block party also entered the jungle this week led by George Taylor who entered the game with a tough injury to his left hand, but he toughed it out and led the team with 5 blocks with his good hand! Brennan Carroll pulled down a tough rebound for his first of the season and hounded his player around the court all game. The boys next game is this Sunday, 12/22/24 at 2pm in Somerville in the shadow of the TD Garden.
5th Grade Boys (Black) – Coach: Gum
Holliston 16, Needham 47
With both teams entering the game 1-0, Holliston and Needham (white) faced off Sunday. Holliston was sluggish at the start and Needham was sharp shooting, passing, and they crashed the boards aggressively. Holliston struggled with turnovers and had many shots just rim out.
Although Holliston showed more life in the second half, Needham ended with a convincing 47–16 win. Yamori Richardson and Grady Gum led Holliston in scoring with 6 points each. Andrew Levasseur and Darian Harris also each chipped in a bucket. Holliston learned a lot from the game and will be ready to face Milton (Silver) on the road next Sunday in their last game before the holidays.
6th Grade Boys (White) – Coach: Cordero
Holliston 11, Dover/Sherborn 31
In a thrilling showdown this weekend, the Holliston 6th Grade Boys (white) faced off against the fierce Dover Sherborn (white) team. The game was a true team effort, with multiple players stepping up and showing their mettle on the court. Leading the charge in rebounding were Clay Duffy and Connor Lydon, each grabbing 4 crucial rebounds. William Finneran put on a versatile display with 2 rebounds, 1 assist, and a steal, while Owen Callahan and Max Metiver each contributed a rebound. Oliver Bennet had a defensive showing making life incredibly tough for his matchup. The boys exhibited remarkable improvement and played with immense heart and hustle compared to last week. Despite their valiant efforts, Dover Sherborn managed to secure the victory with a final score of 31-11.
They’ll hit the road again next weekend to take on Medway (red), ready to continue their journey of growth and competition.
6th Grade Boys (Red) – Coach: Sgarano
Holliston 26, Brookline 35
The Holliston 6th Grade Boys Team (red) lost a tough matchup against Brookline on Sunday 35-26 at Brookline High School. Holliston had a strong first half, taking a 18-17 lead into halftime. Brookline came charging back in the second half, ultimately pulling away in the 4th quarter to seal the win.
Despite the final score, Holliston put forth a strong team effort. Nine different players scored for Holliston, and all 11 players either scored or grabbed a rebound. The team is improving week after week and the coaching staff is looking forward to their upcoming matchups.
Ryan Baker led Holliston with 6 points and 5 steals. Cole Dennison and Donovan Vail each had 4 points. Joe Sgarano and Teddy Miller each had a basket and played tough defense. Declan Aldredge had a basket and 2 steals.
Holliston plays their second game of their 5 game road trip on Sunday morning in Wayland.
7th Grade Boys (Black) [played 12/14 & 12/15] – Coach: Keller
Holliston 20, Milton 35
The Holliston Grade 7 Boys (black) team played two games this weekend. Although both ended in losses, they are showing considerable improvement as individual players and as a team. In Saturday’s game, Jackson Gannaway led the scoring with 6 points, followed by Leo DeFazio and Leo Wagner (5) and Laksh Khatri (4).
Holliston 21, Parkway 27
On Sunday, despite digging into an early 11-point deficit, the team fought their way back to tie the game with 3 minutes remaining. Leo Wagner paced the team with 15 points, Laksh Khatri (3), Kirill Stotski and Leo DeFazio (2). Tanyin Holley was a rebounding force under the basket. The team travels to Hopkinton on Sunday morning to close out the 2024 portion of the schedule.
7th Grade Boys (White) – Coach: Kanavich
Holliston 33, Hopkinton 9
The 7th grade boys (white) played steady in a 33-9 win over border rival Hopkinton Sunday night. The boys are now 2-3 on the season. Leading the team in rebounds was Stone Secaur (10), followed by Dylan Perrett (4), Dylan “Dubbs” Dimmick (4), Luke Bartels (4), Lincoln Daniels (3), Micah Baltisoto (3), Patrick Coletti (2), Nolan Burke (1), and Logan Kanavich (1). The team’s top scorer was Dylan Perrett (10), followed by Logan Kanavich (7), Stone Secaur (6), Lincoln Daniels (4), Micah Baltisoto (4), and Dylan “Dubbs” Dimmick (2).
The team’s “Money Maker” award for the game was given to Stone Secaur for his hustle, focus, and continued improvement each week. The Panthers travel to Norwood this Sunday to take on the Mustangs.
7th Grade Boys (Red) – Coach: Magoon
Holliston 37, Ashland 36
The 7th Grade Boys (red) won a thrilling game against Ashland by a score of 37-36. Holliston built up a 10 point lead but Ashland kept chipping away, ultimately coming down to the final seconds and a final shot by Ashland that was inches away from tying the game. Holliston was led by Devon Doray who scored 15 points and iced the game with two key free throws in the last minute. Joseph Lawendi (8 points), Ryan Magoon (5 points), Austin McGwire (5 points), Brody Stanley (2 points) and Gavin Bausch (2 points) rounded out the scoring. Nick Gorham and John Gebski provided shut down defense to help stop the late Ashland run. Overall, it was a fantastic game with each boy contributing to the win. Holliston moves to 2-0 on the season and heads into its next game against an undefeated Westboro team.
8th Grade Boys (Red) – Coach: Furey
Holliston 70, Wellesley 34
The Holliston 8th Grade Boys (red) team traveled to Wellesley on Sunday. The boys were short handed as illness and injury have made its way through the team in this early season, but that did not stop them from a dominant performance, upending Wellesley 70-34. Four of the eight dressed players scored double digits, led by a strong performance in the paint by Orson Daniels. He put up 20 points, 6 rebounds and 3 blocks. Quinn McErlean followed with 15 points of his own and led the team in steals and assists with 4 each. Achyut Pingali (10 points), Tristan Snyder (10), William Hayes (9), Eli Boggess (4) and Andrew Ferguson (2) rounded out the scoring barrage. Tristan Snyder also led the team with 7 rebounds. Next week, the boys travel to Medfield.
8th Grade Boys (White) – Coach: Negri
Holliston 39, Weston 17
The 8th grade boys Panthers (white) earned an exciting first home win of the season on Sunday, defeating Weston 39-17 in a game that showcased their relentless defense, selfless ball movement, and calm poise under pressure. Aaron Javier powered the offense with 14 points, gliding through defenders with effortless up-and-under moves that brought the crowd to its feet. On the defensive end, Colton McGrath and Liam Forbes smothered Weston’s point guard, forcing rushed shots and turnovers, while Nick DiPippo anchored the paint with 8 rebounds and relentless hustle. From crisp pick-and-rolls to sharp interior passing, the Panthers played with purpose and precision, thrilling their fans with a performance that set a high bar for the season. Holliston will look to carry this momentum into next Sunday’s away game against Framingham to close out 2024.
8th Grade Boys (Black) – Coach: Ennis
Holliston 21, Westwood 58
The 8th grade boys team (black) traveled to Westwood for their first game of the 2024-25 season. Holliston started off slowly as Westwood began the game with an effective full court press. The boys were able to withstand the tenacious pressure, only trailing 14-6 after the first quarter.
In the third and fourth quarters, Westwood extended their press to half court, which allowed them to extend their lead. The Panthers figured out how to break the press by improving their ball movement – making several nice baskets to close out the game.
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